Guitar or Bass?

[mechazeep]

Hey Escapist.
I know most of you don't know me, but I've returned.
I have a question.
Lately, I've been wondering If I should continue learning guitar. I really like the instrument, I've been taking lessons for a few months then taking a long break since august, but I'm just terrible at chords. My fingers are preety big and I usually push down more then 1 fret or string. I'm not sure If I'm just new, or It wasn't meant to be. I'm rather good at hitting induvidual notes quickly, but nothing special. I was thinking about going back to lessons in janurary, so I might get better.
So lately I was wondering if Bass would be a better choice for me. I like the sound as much as guitar, Im good at single notes, and I could proably cover more song then with guitars. Corse, I'm not sure how fast I can pull string upwards witha Bass. Its a bit straining, but maybe I'll get used to it. (I don't really own a Bass, my friend has a half-broken bass I mess around with sometimes)
What do you think?
P.S. If it matter, I plan to cover Modest Mouse or Beatles songs mostly. Their library is mostly easy, but I can't seem to get half the chordes.

 

[blankedboy]

"pull string upwards"

Please tell me you don't pull them upwards. Not only does that sound like shit, it also ruins the strings. You're meant to push them downwardy-forward with your thumb, and pluck (not pull) them backward-ish with your fingers.

 

[mechazeep]

"pull string upwards"

Please tell me you don't pull them upwards. Not only does that sound like shit, it also ruins the strings. You're meant to push them downwardy-forward with your thumb, and pluck (not pull) them backward-ish with your fingers.

Sorry for my terminology. I play Bass accordingly to the norm of how most play Bass.

 

[KEM10]

You can't have funk without bass. Forget Beatles and Modest Mouse, go funk. I guess blues would also be acceptable.

 

[mechazeep]

What would be a highly popular funk band?
I have never sampled this Genre. I have been usually listening to Alternative Rock, Techno, Phychedellic and Folk.

 

[Ham_authority95]

"pull string upwards"

Please tell me you don't pull them upwards. Not only does that sound like shit, it also ruins the strings. You're meant to push them downwardy-forward with your thumb, and pluck (not pull) them backward-ish with your fingers.

Sorry for my terminology. I play Bass accordingly to the norm of how most play Bass.

Trust me, that is NOT the norm of bass playing, regardless of what you see kids doing in the music store. I've been a Bassist for 2 years now, so I know this. Hell, it can even make you unemployable if you can only Slap and Pop(which is the proper term for what you were doing).

OT: You seem to be farther along with Guitar than bass, so I would continue with that. Take the lessons in January. Join a band or start jamming with friends once you've learned most of the chords, notes, and learned some songs.

You could also do both. Playing two instruments will make you an in-demand player.

Hope that helps.

 

[MrNickster]

I hate chords too and I'm sure you're sick of hearing this, but the only way to get better at them is too practice them. I have thick fingers too, so i have to curve my wrist and fingers up when I play chords so that I don't press down too many frets/strings-Try that.

I play bass first, guitar second and let me tell you-bass is not just a dumbed down guitar. Just because a bass has fewer strings, it doesn't mean that it is any easier to master then a guitar.

 

[Pipsquid]

I don't know how to place videos, but watch this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rek3g8znpOg

I play the bass myself. You really can't compare either of them. Diferent functions, diferent keys, diferent everything. I've always liked the bass part more, never the main part. That's why I chose to play Trombone, Bass and Tuba. Of course you can have epic solos on every instrument.

 

[mechazeep]

I hate chords too and I'm sure you're sick of hearing this, but the only way to get better at them is too practice them. I have thick fingers too, so i have to curve my wrist and fingers up when I play chords so that I don't press down too many frets/strings-Try that.

I play bass first, guitar second and let me tell you-bass is not just a dumbed down guitar. Just because a bass has fewer strings, it doesn't mean that it is any easier to master then a guitar.

Thanks.
I don't think bass would have been easier, but I thought it would just be more pretained to my abilities, but alas, I shall continue playing guitar as of the time being.

 

[DustyDrB]

Bass is easier to play than guitar if you have beefy digits. I was blessed with abnormally long and girlishly skinny fingers. So even though I'm wincing in pain every time I meet some dude who treats handshakes like a show of dominance, I've got an advantage to rock.

You can get over that kind of stuff, though, if you want to play guitar. You can always pick up the other instrument when you have the cash for it.

 

[Berethond]

Or you could just practice playing chords more.
That would solve your problem.